PRESIDENT'S WEEKLY - Baptism: The Life Blood of each branch and ward!

Baptism: The Life Blood of each Branch and Ward!

Dear Elders and Sisters:

Thank you for coming so prepared to learn and receive revelation last week in our Specialized Training.  We truly hope you did and trust our preparations and instructions were in line, or should I better say on course with what this mission currently needs. On the heels of this, I thought it important to summarize.  I choose a metaphor as a way to do so.

In the Zone Conference we had in late January, we ended it with a teaching from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin - Journey to Higher Ground.  In our desire to 'Journey to Higher Ground' as a mission dedicated to serving and assisting these wonderful Branches, Wards and Stakes to reach their inspired goals of baptisms this year, it is not enough to simply say; "We are going to Higher Ground.  We are climbing that mountain."  No, because while we begin with great intentions and desires, if we do not chart and map our course correctly, we may expend a tremendous amount of energy in the journey and fail to reach the desired or appropriate destination.  As we discussed, just a few degrees off course will make a big difference as to whether or not we actually reach our destination.  We must plan appropriately and execute effectively and efficiently in order to Journey to the Higher Ground the Lord desires we arrive at.  And in this, we cannot be like Saul!  We must do this work, the Lord's Work in His prescribed way - largely meaning a PMG way.

Therefore, as you go forward from this Specialized Training, I trust you will carefully examine your entire day's schedule, activities, and focus to see where you may be a few degrees off course and in what ways you are not doing things in the Lord's way.  These can be very small things such as a slight drift from exact obedience, not fully utilizing and incorporating ALL of the teachings and instructions from PMG, failing to plan in great depth on Fridays or in a meaningful way each evening, not sincerely and effectively role playing in Companion Studies, etc. 

This mission is going in the right direction!  You Elders and Sisters are anxiously engaged in the Work of Salvation!  You have 'great desires to do the work' and you love one another and the Branches, Wards and Stakes where you serve.  As I shared with you my fond recollections of the places I served on my mission and how those who became Members are now such an integral part of the Church's success there, it is true with those you help to find their way into the Lord's Kingdom here.  Each Branch, Ward and Stake needs new Members.  Baptisms are the "life blood" of this great Church!  Any unit you serve in will be well served to have new Members join, participate, serve, and progress as individuals and families in their path to exaltation. Their own lives are blessed as well as the lives of those who find, fellowship, teach, love and assist.  It is a great blessing and rich opportunity for each Unit to enjoy the blessings of Baptisms! 

So go forward with great faith and great desires to follow the course of action the Lord will provide and has provided.  Get on your knees and pray to know where you should cast your nets and then get up and go to work!  Work in the Lord's prescribed manner (PMG and as instructed by your leaders) and you will be exactly on course.  Find and establish balance in all you do.  Always ask "Why?" and "Should I/we?" hence doing those things that will be of the greatest worth!  And make it your greatest desire to assist these wonderful Units in obtaining their inspired and desired goals of New Convert Baptisms this year.  They are depending on you.  They have great confidence in you and will assist you as you demonstrate to them your sincere desires to "find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost."

With great love and appreciation for your diligence, faith, and exact obedience in living and fulfilling your Missionary Purpose,

President Clark

Specialized Training 3-2016

The assistants put an extra spin on our Specialized Training this month.  They put several videos together of a typical "Missionary Day" beginning at 6:30 a.m. and ending with lights out at 10:00 p.m.  I have put their opening video up on Facebook - take a look - it is very inspiring, they did a great job!  The videos were used throughout the day, each video demonstrated the wrong and the correct way to go about a missionary day, with missionary testimonials sprinkled throughout.  It was a great way to remind us how to be a fantastic CFM missionary.



TUESDAY: HANFORD, VISALIA, PORTERVILLE ZONES

This was a sad day for me, because I was not able to be at specialized training, I couldn't believe how much I missed everyone.   I was at home watching my two little grandchildren while their parents were out of town.  The missionaries were so sweet - they left an empty chair for me.

WEDNESDAY:  FRESNO, FRESNO NORTH, FRESNO EAST ZONES

  One half hour before the meeting starts we invite whoever would like to join us in our "Insta-Choir.  We meet in the chapel, pass out the music, rehearse for a few minutes then perform when called upon.  These missionaries are so talented, the choir sounded beautiful!  It was a lot of fun

THURSDAY: MERCED, FRESNO WEST ZONES

PRESIDENT'S WEEKLY - Trust the Lord and Follow God's Pattern

Trust the Lord and Follow God’s Pattern

My Dear Elders and Sisters:

We are so excited for Specialized Training this week and trust you are as well.  Sister Clark and I have been preparing diligently for weeks and the Assistants have been working so hard on something that will amaze you.  Please come prepared to receive, to be changed, and to then go forward and take this great work to Higher Ground!

In preparation, will you please read and consider the following:

A Matter of a Few Degrees:

"In 1979 a large passenger jet with 257 people on board left New Zealand for a sightseeing flight to Antarctica and back. Unknown to the pilots, however, someone had modified the flight coordinates by a mere two degrees. This error placed the aircraft 28 miles (45 km) to the east of where the pilots assumed they were. As they approached Antarctica, the pilots descended to a lower altitude to give the passengers a better look at the landscape. Although both were experienced pilots, neither had made this particular flight before, and they had no way of knowing that the incorrect coordinates had placed them directly in the path of Mount Erebus, an active volcano that rises from the frozen landscape to a height of more than 12,000 feet (3,700 m).

"As the pilots flew onward, the white of the snow and ice covering the volcano blended with the white of the clouds above, making it appear as though they were flying over flat ground. By the time the instruments sounded the warning that the ground was rising fast toward them, it was too late. The airplane crashed into the side of the volcano, killing everyone on board.

"It was a terrible tragedy brought on by a minor error--a matter of only a few degrees."  (Uchtdorf, "A Matter of a Few Degrees", GC April 2008)

Saul, the King of Israel:

"The story of Saul, the king of Israel, illustrates this point. Saul’s life began with great promise, but it had an unfortunate and tragic end. In the beginning, Saul was “a choice young man, … and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he.” Saul was personally chosen by God to be king. He had every advantage--he was physically imposing, and he came from an influential family.

"Of course, Saul had weaknesses, but the Lord promised to bless, uphold, and prosper him. The scriptures tell us that God promised to always be with him, give him another heart, and turn him into another man.

"When he had the Lord’s help, Saul was a magnificent king. He united Israel and defeated the Ammonites, who had invaded their land. Soon a much greater problem faced him--the Philistines, who had a terrible army with chariots and horsemen “and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude.” The Israelites were so terrified of the Philistines that they hid “themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks.”

"The young king needed help. The prophet Samuel sent word for him to wait and that he, the prophet, would come and offer sacrifice and seek counsel from the Lord. Saul waited seven days, and still the prophet Samuel had not arrived. Finally, Saul felt he could wait no longer. He gathered the people together and did something he had no priesthood authority to do--he offered the sacrifice himself.

"When Samuel arrived, he was brokenhearted. “Thou hast done foolishly,” he said. If only the new king had endured a little longer and not deviated from the course of the Lord, if only he had followed the revealed order of the priesthood, the Lord would have established his kingdom forever. “But now,” Samuel said, “thy kingdom shall not continue.”

"On that day, the prophet Samuel recognized a critical weakness in Saul’s character. When pressured by outside influences, Saul did not have the self-discipline to stay on course, trust the Lord and His prophet, and follow the pattern God had established." (Ibid)

Come prepared to receive great revelations on how to better do His work His way and how to better participate with the Lord in the hastening of the work.

Love,

President Clark

Trainer/Trainee & District Leader Training Meetings 3-2016

To have Trainer/Trainee and District Leadership Training both on at the same time and day is very "eventful"  The District Leaders meet in the Chapel while the Trainer/Trainee Missionaries are in the gym.  We travel back and forth between trainings - it is actually one of our favorite days!

MLC 3-2016

We always love our Mission Leadership Meetings!  It lifts our spirits, brightens our day and reminds us that we are serving in the greatest mission on earth!

Returned Missionaries Return!

There is nothing better than to see former missionaries visiting the mission doing so fantastic!  We love these missionaries - once a missionary always a missionary!

Parker Feltner and his new bride

James Shepley with his mom and dad

KayLee Roemmich

Dillon Rector with his fiancee and family

PRESIDENT'S WEEKLY - Your Purpose as a Missionary

Your Purpose as a Missionary

Dear Elders and Sisters:

For the past two weeks I have been studying Preach My Gospel Chapter 1.  I love this chapter!  It inspires me!  Last week I noted to you that I felt it was instructive that the very first paragraph was about finding people to teacher.  And we all know that "nothing happens in Missionary Work until you find someone to teach!"  I consider that thought is my 3 second lead in.  So in the spirit of 3:30:3 and assuming you want more based on my 3 second offering, allow me to offer my 30 second message to you about your purpose as a Missionary.  It goes as follows (all quoted from PMG Chapter 1):

"As an authorized representative of Jesus Christ, you can teach people with power and authority that ‘redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah,’ and that no one ‘can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah’ (2 Nephi 2:6, 8).”

"You are called to represent Jesus Christ in helping people become clean from their sins. You do this by inviting them to come unto Jesus Christ and become converted to His restored gospel.”

"Spiritual power is a gift that makes it possible for you to do your work more effectively.”

"Baptizing and confirming the people you teach is central to your purpose.”

"Your success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost."

I trust my 30 second message has created great interest in you.  If so, please prepare to receive the 30 minute version in Specialized Training.  Your assignment in order to be prepared to "receive" is as follows:

Please review during your ASKS Time or Study time the following;

1. PMG Chapter 1, the section on "A Successful Missionary", and memorize the first paragraph - "Your success as a missionary....."

2. PMG Chapter 10, How to Begin Teaching - Please memorize the HTBT bullet points!

I offer my testimony that your ability to represent the Savior Jesus Christ will be manifest in great power as you live in exact obedience and work in all faith and great diligence to fulfill your Missionary Purpose.  I know this to be true with every fiber of my being! 

With great love and anticipation of the wonderful vista to be experienced from higher ground,

President Clark

Transfer "Hub" 2-2016

Well, we attempted our first “Transfer Hub” in our efforts to relieve the Members from driving us all over the valley and to comply with the Brethren’s request that we not conduct transfer meetings….and it was great!  We will refine it and make it even better in the coming transfers but it went very well.  We had every companion affected by the transfer come with their soon to be former companion and lined the cars up in order to expedite the process (ie: Companion Elder A in Car 1 now goes with his new Companion in Car 2 whose Companion Elder B now goes with his new companion in Car 3, etc, etc, etc).  Wish us luck!!!!